Center seconds chronograph



March 9, 1954 1 @IANA 2,671,308

CENTER SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH Filed July 3, 1952 /NVEA/rop:

EAN c/ANA Pafented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTER SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH Application July 3, 1952, Serial No.k 297,126 Claims priority, application Switzerland July 5, 1951 11 Claims. (Cl. 58-'76) 1 2 This invention relates to center seconds base-plate and said part of the returning lever chronographs and more especially to a simplied chronograph mechanism, which is particularly suitable for low-priced watches,

The chronograph according to this invention is of the type, wherein the second hand wheel is started and stopped by a mechanism, comprising ay rocker pivotally mounted on the frame (or particularly on the base-plate of the watch movement) and two levers connected to said rocker for swinging it into starting and stopping positions, each of said levers being actuated by a pusher generally provided at the periphery of the watch movement.

In order to return in prior art the second hand to zero after a time-record (that is after stopping the chronograph) a heart-shaped cam is mounted on the second hand spindle, whereon both the second hand wheel and the second hand are mounted; and a third pusher controls a returning lever; whereby an end of said returning lever when actuated comes into contact with the above-mentioned heart-shaped cam and cooperates therewith in the well-known manner.

It is the main object of this invention to provide cooperating means between the returning lever and one of the two levers connected toA said rocker so that both levers may be actuated by the same pusher.

These cooperating means are particularly provided between the returning lever and the disengaging lever, thatis the lever which swings said rocker into stopping position when it is actuated by its pusher.

The cooperation of the disengaging lever with the returning lever is secured by a projection provided on the disengaging lever for removing the returning lever, against the action of resilient means, from the control of the disengaging pusher, when the rocker is in starting position. Said resilient means normally assure that the returning lever will be under the control of the disengaging pusher.

An advantage of this combination is to provide a. simplified chronograph mechanism with only two pushers instead of three. Another advantage of this combination is to avoid pressing the returning lever, as long as the chronograph runs, as may occur in the case of three pushers, if the pusher of the returning lever is inadvertently pressed instead of the disengaging pusher.

The preferred chronograph mechanism is that wherein at least a part of the returning lever extends in parallel to the disengaging lever, the disengaging lever being slidably mounted onthe being slidably mounted on the bridge of the movement, above the disengaging lever. In this preferred case, the projection of the disengaging lever extends perpendicularly to the plane thereof, pasess through a slot provided in the returning lever and cooperates with a resilient strip xed on one end on the upper face of the returning lever, said strip having an extension normally projecting in the zone of action of the disengaging pusher, the projection of the disengaging lever removing, however, said extension of the resilient strip from the zone of action of the disengaging pusher when the rocker with both engaging and disengaging levers connected to it is in the stopping position.

In the drawings affixed to this specication and forming part thereof, two embodiments of this invention are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan View of the preferred embodiment of the chronograph, the movement bridge being partially torn away to show the mechanism of the chronograph;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along the line 1li- II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the second embodiment with the movement bridge taken away;

Fig. e is a cross-section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Only the parts necessary for the comprehension of the invention have been represented and the same references throughout the specication designate the same objects.

Referring now to the drawings, I is the Watchcase in which the base-plate 2 of the watch movement is held in any usual manner, not represented, and 3 is the ordinary crown fixed to the stem 4 partially represented. The engaging pusher 5 is slidably mounted in an appropriate aperture'provided at the periphery of the watchcase l.

The outward motion of the pusher 5 is limited by an annular rim 6 provided thereon. This pusher 5 cooperates with an end of a substantially radially disposed engaging lever 1. The other end of lever 'l is joined by a pin 8a at an end of a rocker 8, so that the rocker S and the lever 'i are articulated with one another by the pin 8a.. The other end of the rocker 8 is similarly connected by a pin 8b to a disengaging lever I0 (Fig. 2). The rocker 8 is pivotally mounted on the base-plate 2 by a screw bolt 9.A A disengaging pusher II slidably mounted in an appropriate aperture at the periphery of the Watchcase I, cooperates with the external end of the disengaging lever IU, which is also substantiaily disposed normally to the outer edge of the baseplate 2. The pusher II is normally held in the represented position by a spring I2 fixed thereto and bearing against `the'outer edge ot the baseplate 2.

A nose I3 of the rocker 8 cooperates with a bolt I4 xed to a yoke I5 for controlling the starting and stopping positions of the chronograph mechanism in the manner described bepivotally mounted on the base-plate 2 Aabout an axle 41 (Figs. 3 and 4).

The IIJelffbearing'.@fs the wheel I6 is provided in the movement mutigev I1, which is xed to the base-plate 2 bymeans of pillars such as represented at I3 (Figs. 3 and 4). Thebase-.plate 2 and-theibridge liconstitute together the frame vof the chronograph mechanism within'which the wheels of the-watch movement are 'pivotedy The yoke I is .pushed in` clockwise'direction about `its axle 41 by a spring I8. This` motion of the yoke is limited-by` `the screw bolt 20, which is screwed into-the base-plate 2 and which cooperates With an oblong slot 2| provided in the yoke I5. In the .startinghposition' the Vyoke I5 abuts against the bolt23 andthe third wheel It meshes with a small serrated second hand wheel 22, `mounted on a second Ahandspindle 23, carrying the second handIZL-andbeing pivoted inthe` centery of base-plate 42.

The starting and.;stopping rmechanism `described above is of a well knownl type-and is the same ,inthe two embodiments shown in the draw-` ings.v The onlydiiierence betweenlthe 4two said mechanisms in the embodiments represented consists in the disengaging levers..,lThe.disen-` gaging Vlever Illa in` Figs. 3 and 4 is .somewhat diierentfromthe disengaging lever Ishown in Figs.1and.2. l.

This startingV and stopping 4mechanism .opera-tes-as follows: ...Oncethevpusher .5 `has been actuated, the mechanism is in the startingpositionrepresented vin fuil linesin the drawings. .11n this .posit-ion the nose I3 of therocker .has allowed a clockwise motion of the yoke I5 about its axle 41:undertheactionfofthe spring I9, so that the yoke I5' abuts'against the bolt ZD'and the .third wheel I 6.meshes .with .the .secondhand wheel 22, vcarrying it alongwiththe .watch ymovement.. 1

On pressing the disengagingv pusher II when the .mechanism is .in starting position, `the' dis# engaging lever II), ,'I ilare'spectively causes in each embodimentthe rocker 8 to swing out into the position represented in dotand stroke-lines 'in the drawings. During this motion of th'erock'elr 8 its nose I3 pushes the boltlof the.` yoke I5 against the'actin-of thev spring I9, causing this yoke I5 to pivot counterclockwise about its axle 41, sothatthewheels I6 and 22 no longer mesh with eachother. ,Therirn Ii of `the'pusher 5 abutting against the'watchcase I prevents a further lclockwise motion of the rocker `under the action of the spring l'pushing the bolt I4 which bears against theedge l25 of the'noseV I3.

A clockwise motion both of the rocker about the axle S in the stopping position and of the yoke"l5about the axlelll lin the' starting positionv could, of course, be limited insany other manner;

The mechanism having'once been stopped can be -started again by pressingthe' `engaging pusher `returningleveris a jointed lever.

5, which pushes the engaging lever 1, articulated With the rocker 8, causing the latter to swing counterclockwise till the top of the nose I3 passes on the other side of the bolt I4; thereby, allowing the yoke I5 to pivot clockwise under the action of the spring I9 until the wall of the ob` long aperture 2| abuts against the bolt 20, puttingithe starting'and stoppingmechanism again in the starting position represented in""full lines inthe drawings.

In order tobeable to return the second hand 24 to zero after a time-record, a heart-shaped `camis 4mountedon the second hand spindle 23- andia `returning lever cooperates with this cam on' depressing a pusher.

'In the rst embodiment (Figs. 1 and 2) the A rst part E1" of this returning lever is slidably mounted on thebridge I1 by means. of two oblong slots 28, 23 provided in this part21 for coacting with two guiding ybol-tsfii, 3 I screwed on` tovthebridg" lI 1. The partt21 1extends'substantially in paralllto thedisengaging'y 1ever I0 vSandl is disposedszibnvfey it. A resilient strip32l is `riveted'by one'endfon' to the upper face ofsthe part 21'01" the'lretuming lever,y i. e. onto the facethereof-rwh-ich .turned away from the disengaging lever I0.- lThis .resilient strip is so bent at .-33 and 34overiani'oblong slot'35 provided in the part 2'Ifasfto formiacam surface 36. The free "end of the-iresilient".strip 32 is so bent. at a rightV angle 4overlthe'fexternal end ofthe part 21;as.to formtantextension-M; which plunges intofthe zone tof-:actionfofstheidlsa engaging pusher II when said resilientfvstrvipilies normally. `over the ypart v21fas1` .representeduini dot and dashiines in;Fig.i2.

projects 'normally therefrom` throughstheaslotai and its end cooperatesrso:'withfthezcamtsurace 36 ofthe resilient fstrpi32` thatthe strip32 lies on the part 21awhen the mechanismiis instopping position (represented .in ldot and a :dash -zlines .a in Fig. 2) lcausing i the/extension `:31.r`of said. stripv to plunge lintothe zone of-action ofi-.the fdisengaging pusher II. The finger V38 `pushes the; resilient strip' 32 n away fromfthe part yZ1 'of the returning lever/:When the-mechanism'fis 'in starting. position (represented in vfull .lines in. Fig; 12) causingthe extension 31 to be pushed out y.oftthevzone 'effac- .1 tion. of.. the J pusher: '5I I; .Consequentlypin the starting position a, rstxpressingoffthe-disengage ing pusherrII willvstop the chronographin' the manner. described above, `without ,iany' action on the part 21 of the returning-Jever... Theichron'.- ograph having once been stoppedfa second pressing .of the pusher. I Iy will thenccauseithepart of 'thereturning lever .to Vslide inwards;

A second. part 39ofx the returning lever is pivs oted .in :the `frame of the `watch movement by meansiof 1an `axle 39a; An. endof thepartSIII-is articulated on the internal endof the.part;21'. The other end ofv therpart 39coxnesfintoicontact with the heart-shaped cam ZBzwhen LthepartrZT is vslidinwards by the :pusher l I:

After havingbeen actuated' bythedisenga-ging pusher II, the. returninglever couldibevbrought into .its original, outward position byanyspring means. In the represented embodiment, fhowever, the oblong slot 35 "is so providedthat thereturning lever is only then pushedoutwardsiinto its original position bythe flnger`=38 `cooperating with the wall of the -slot 35` Whenthemecha'nism is started again, i. e. whenfthe disengafging'lever isl-pushed loutwards 'by pressing the engagi `pusher if f In the second embodiment (Figs. 3 and 4) the returning lever 40 extends also substantially in parallel to the disengaging lever lua. In this embodiment, however, the returning lever 40 is mounted on the base-plate 2 at substantially the same level as the disengaging lever Illa. An oblong slot 4I is provided in the returning lever 40 for slidably and pivotally guiding it by means of a screw bolt 42 screwed into the base-plate 2. A spring 43 is so provided as to maintain the lever 40 outwards and in contact with the disengaging lever Illa.

A projection 44 is provided on the disengaging lever Na and in the plane thereof for cooperating with a cam surface 46 of a nock 45 provided on the returning lever 40. The projection 44 and the cam surface 46 cooperate in such a manner,

that the projection 44, bearing against the cam surface 4B, causes the returning lever 40 to pivot in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring 43 about the screw bolt 42, when the disengaging lever is pushed into starting position by the engaging pusher 5. The disengaging lever a comes thereby at least into the position represented in full lines in Fig. 3.

In the starting position the external end of the returning lever 40 consequently lies beside thel .chronograph mechanism by pushing the disengaging lever Illa inwards, Without moving the returning lever 40. The chronograph mechanism having once -been stopped, the projection 44 no longer bears against the cam surface 46 of the nock 45, so that the returning lever 4D may pivot (under the action of the spring 43) in a counterclockwise direction into the position represented in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. In this case its external end lies in the zone of action of the disengaging pusher ll, so that a renewed pressing of the pusher I I will slide the returning lever 4U inwards till its internal end comes into contact with the heart-shaped cam 26 for returning the second hand to zero.

Various changes may be made in the conguration and ararngement of the parts hereabove described and shown in the drawings without departing from the invention or sacricing the advantages thereof.

'What I claim is:

l. In a center seconds chronograph the combination of a frame, a second hand wheel mounted on a second hand spindle pivoted in said frame, a second hand mounted on said spindle, a rocker pivotally mounted on said .frame and adapted .for starting and stopping saidV second hand wheel, an engaging lever connected to said rocker, an engaging pusher adapted for pushing said engaging lever to swing said rocker into starting position, a disengaging lever having a projection and being connected to said rocker, a ,disengaging pusher adapted for pushing said disengaging lever to swing said rocker into stopping l returning said second hand to zero, resilient means for normally assuring said returning lever to be under the control of said disengaging pusher, said projection of said disengaging lever removing, against the action of said resilient means,

said returning lever from the control of said disposition, and means removing said returning lever from said heart-shaped cam at vthe latest when said engaging pusher is pressed for starting said second hand wheel.

2. In a center seconds chronograph the'combination of a frame, a second hand wheel mounted on a second hand spindle pivoted in said frame, a second hand mounted onfsaid spindle, a rocker pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted for starting and stopping said second hand wheel, an engaging lever connected to said rocker, an engaging pusher adapted for pushing said engaging lever to swing said rocker -into starting position, a disengaging lever having a projection and being connected to said rocker, a disengaging pusher adapted for pushing said disengaging lever to swing said rocker into stopping position, a heart-shaped cam mounted on said second hand spindle, a returning lever having a first part slidably mounted on said frame and a second part connected to the irst, a resilient strip fixed by one end to said returning lever, said resilient strip having a cam surface and an extension projecting into the zone o f action'of said disengaging pusherfor actuating said returning lever by pressing said disengaging pusher, the second part of said returning lever coming thereby into contact with said heart-shaped cam for returning said second hand to zero, said cam surface cooperating with said projection of said disengaging lever for removing said extension of said resilient strip from the zone of action of said disengaging pusher when said rocker is in starting position, and means removing said returning lever from said heart-shaped cam at the latest when said engaging pusher is pressed for starting said second hand wheel.

3. In a center seconds chronograph the combination of a frame, a second hand wheel mounted on a second hand spindle pivoted in said frame, a second hand mounted on said spindle, a rocker pivotally mounted on said frame and adapted for starting and stopping said second hand wheel, an engaging lever connected to said rocker, an engaging pusher provided at the periphery of said frame and adapted for pushing said engaging lever into a direction substantially normal tothe outer edge of said frame to swing said rocker into starting position, a disengaging lever having a projection and being connected to said rocker, a disengaging pusher provided at the periphery of said frame and adapted for pushing said disengaging lever into a direction substantially normal tothe outer edge of said frame to Yswing said rocker into stopping position, a heart-shaped cam mounted on said second hand spindle, a returning lever having a rst part slidably mounted onsaid frame and a second part connected to the rst, said iirstpart extending substantially in parallel to said disengaging lever, said first part being arranged above thedisengaging lever, a resilient strip fixed by one end on to the face of said returning lever, which is turned away from said disengaging lever, said resilient strip having a cam surface and an extension projecting into the zone of action of said disengaging pusher for actuating said returning lever by pressing said disengaging pusher, the second part of said returning lever coming thereby into contact with said heart-shaped cam for returning said second hand to zero, said cam surface cooperating with said projectionof said disengaging lever for removing said extension engaging `pusher when said rocker is in starting l of said resilient strip from the zone of action of said disengaging pusher when said rocker is in ve'xtensionof said resilientistripislorniedfbyia 'foldthereo'f over-thesexternai end yofc-said first "'parftiiof: the 'returning 1 lever;A a slot is provided? in rsaid iirst part, said'fcamsurface'fof said'resilient fstripibeingformed-nya .fold thereof-,fand said m'lly thereto and cooperates ifwithi 'said cam surface formed" by saidcfoldfof'said .resilient strip thmughf said-@Slot for 1 removing- "said' extensin fof said." resilientstrip from? the'i-zoe lof action ff fsaiddise'ngaging pusher 'Whensa'idl rockeris in 'starting'. position, csaid pro ection of` -said @disen- ',gagingtflever f cooperating 'with the walls o'fsaid 4vslot lfor*removing Vsaidk returning leverl'ffrornL said heaift-shaped;y camY when said? engaging pusherl is pressed for `star-ting said-second hand wheel.: f6. The combinationfof,` claim i3, i 'viizeiebyY said first part of` theretu'rning Llever `is arrangedabove vlsaidfdisengaging leven and substantially extends lin-"epa'rallel thereto; fand said second part-is -arranged withinsaid framef andi pivoted therein, 'one-1 en'dof l said-fseoond part' being articulated tofsaid rstipartand--the lother end of said sec- Eond partcoming-finto contactfwith said heartshapedicamf'when-saidi first part of said returning leveris 'actuatedfibyf isad" disengagirigpusher. Ina L'cen-terlseconds-chionograph thecombination of a frame, a second haridiwl'ieelmonntedt-onen `secondi'@hand lspindleipivotedv in said fran-Ie;I af'se'cond hand mountedonsaidf spindle, la. roclter-r-p'i'votaiiyi -rnounte'don-` said frim'ey and `adapted :for startingv -andwstoppizigfaid second 'fhandiWheelna-'n engaging flever connected to said 'rcel-zer, engaging pusherv adaptedlfor pushing 'said engaging .lever l:to fswingsaidfrocker" into ma starting position; if a disengaging` lever i having v`a projection 'aand 1'being `'connected fto *said rockery idisengaging. pusher -fadaizuted fforf pushing m:said disenga'ging lever tosvving said 'rocker into' stop p'ingsposition,fa lhearteshaped cam mounted-'on .said second handspindle'fia return-ing lever slidafhiy "and:swingably'iniounted `onA sai'd'iram'e, fsaid lreturningflever being cozitrollediby#saiddsengaging pusher, oneA end= of "saidreturningllevrbeing adapted :lor cit-"ming into I Contact With-'said' 'heartshaped1-cam` forireturning-"saidf,secondi-hand to f zeros resilient ineains"V for` `lioldirig Said`I returning leverancier the control-foff'sa'id"disengaging pushfer;y said projectnof said" dsengagigleverfcop# lera-ting with "said rreturninglever'forf-swinging it against. the' action lofi saidresilint frneans outof Atl'ie'vcontrol `of said`r disengaging .pusher when'said rockerl'is 'in startingposition, and a 'spring removl'e'd- 'one-a secondi hand F spin'dle ipivoted 4in1 maid frame; a *secondi hand'l-mounted-f ongfsaidfspintlle, 'a rocker 'pivotallyi inoimted-lonflsaidi @rame adapted for starting and stopping rsaid *second hand"whee1-,f=fan ngagin'glevercorinectedtoliai Trocken#ani-engaging pusher l 1:1'revidcdiat#tl'iei'p'q `riphery of f said lframe I#and adapted ':frpushig said engaging lever into a, direction substantially normalv-totlieoteriledgelbf fsad tram'eitobwing 'saidfrocker lihto"starting-position;l a vdiser'igfgi'rig flever 'ihaving fa lprofiectionwandf being I vconnesteil `tosa-id rocken*'afdisengagingypusherprovidedlat Vthe *periphery of- 's'idfframef and:v adapted ffcr pushing Asaidfitiisel'igaglingileverwinto2a direction substantially normal jf-to-j the fo'terliedge ofi-said Lframe i 4to Wswing said"ilrookeriiitoA Stoppingi position,--a` heart-shaped A oammountedf `n said 'o'ndl'handf spindlej-fareturning rlever""slidalt'ilyfa'id swingably' mounted on said-freineandextnding substantially--in^paral1el to -sai`d` disengagin'g lever, said returning Y leveribeifng Larranged#svl'ilas to" bepushed fiyf saidlfdise'ngaging l"pSher;fthefin- `termal end of saidreturningleveroorning-therey into contact With-f-saidiheartishapedlA cam? fori-re lturningsaid second handtolzezforesilientmeans for `maintaining saidli'eturring lever1-inthezorie of action 1 of -I`said I Idisenga'giifig pusher; "said *projeotlonfof said i disengaging lever i cooperating 'with said 1 4returning lvefmr swingingitifutf the zone offiaction-of saidois'engaging pusher *when said rocker is ustarting *positiony *and-'ia spring removing saidiretiirning lever-F f lomisaid `'heai't`-s1dap`ed Cain "after lasgf-said disengaging pusher;` 9. '1"he combinationiofclaim"i8, -wl'iereiiyisalifd #returning `leverfis stvi'ngablylmountedfon said frameabout anv -a'xisperpendicular to saidpfrarne. l1'0; A The combinatin 4of llaim "whiebya screwf bolt's fixed to:saidframed-nden oblong aperture is provided in said"retniningflevergitlie Walls f of Ysat-idf aperture surroundingosaid `bdlt"'fo r 'guiding fthefsliding "andl swinging; movementsifof saidfreturning-lefenf;v i

11":-Thewcombination-"oeclaim8, whereby said projection of said disengaginggleverextendsfin the same plane as the disenga'ginglever, `the-dis- 'engaging lever' and the returning yleverfsnbstam daily lying; inthesamefn1ane;-an1=a nooxlispifovided-'on saidixieturning lever; said projection `f `said disengaginglevencooperating with' the-walls lo'fsaid nook.

'JEANLCIJ`1 U References Cited inff-ftheiniefoff thisipatent- FOREIGN PATENTS Number'. f l.ICountry" @Ditchj 232,94'81:4 :Switzerland f1. Y. "Sept-.1216; H1944 

